I posted this review on Rachel Reading. For more like it, check it out.

I was really nervous about this book, I'd heard that it was a bit of horror and if you  haven't noticed from my book reviews it isn't something that I normally read. I had been avoiding it as much as possible, but I knew people were really in love with it, so I was also unsure if this was something I actually wanted to pick up. However, this book ended up being the very first book that was given to me in my Reading Glasses Postal Book Club so I decided to dive in and give it a chance since the purpose of a postal book club is to read things you wouldn't normally read.

I used to listen to the "What Should I Read Next?" Podcast and Anne Bogel would often say that there was a writer (I'm not sure the name of the writer) who would say that they could tell something was a good book, it just wasn't for them, and that's what this book was for me. Maybe I'm just not smart enough to truly understand what was going on here, but it all just seemed so strange to me. I couldn't figure out if this book was truly about being a Vegetarian, or if that was symbolic of something else. I've never done very good with figuring out symbolism, so I spent most of this book wondering if I was missing something. 

This story is told in three parts, the first from Yeong-hye's perspective as she decides to become a vegetarian. This becomes a very big deal, and she is not supported by her husband for her decision. I don't want to spoil anything because this book really should be fully experienced, but it doesn't go over well. The second part of the book is told from Yeong-hye's brother in law, and then her sister. This book was short, and I really don't think it is a horror book. It didn't scare me, it was just strange. Like I said, I know this book is written well and is a good book and deserves the hype, it just wasn't for me, and I think went over my head a little bit.

I originally posted this review on my blog, Rachel Reading. If you like it, and would like more like it, check it out!

I’m going to be honest, I wasn’t expecting much out of this. It had a leg up because my lovely bookish friend Sarah is the one who sent this through for the Reading Glasses Postal Book Club. However, I haven’t had the best experiences with short stories collections, I really want to be immersed in a world and find amazing characters and hear amazing stories.

The titular story didn’t convince me. I was worried that I was going to have to kind of force myself through these, but then I was pleasantly surprised. While I wasn’t as much of a fan of some stories, most were extremely engrossing. I felt like I’d fallen into the worlds of these characters. So many of the stories really captivated me, and will stick with me for a while.

I regularly think about the story involving the veteran and the masseuse, and since I’m in a postal book club, I’m lucky to where when I get books, someone else has already written their thoughts. The person who gets the books before me is actually in the military, so her take on this book was pretty amazing. I don’t want to spoil any of the stories for anyone, because they all had beautiful hints of magical realism that even when you begin to expect it, they make you gasp with surprise in the most beautiful way.

This book comes highly recommended by me, as I firmly believe that there is a story in here for everyone, everyone will find one that resonates with them more, and I think that’s beautiful. It really reaffirmed my faith in short stories, and has opened me up to a whole new world. I would like to explore more of Russell’s writing because it’s beautiful and done in a way that makes you forget you’re going to only spend a little bit of time with these characters before giving them away. She gives enough closure in each of these stories, to make you feel settled, if that makes sense.